THE DECEPTION AT LYME Or, The Peril of Persuasion

The sixth Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mystery borrows its characters and setting from Jane Austen’s PERSUASION. Vacationing at Lyme, the Darcys stumble upon a woman who has apparently fallen from the Cobb. Their efforts to get her help and her subsequent death immediately after giving birth ensnare them in mysteries that involve murder, thievery, and smuggling. Each chapter begins with a quote from PERSUASION that sets the story squarely in Austen’s genteel world. Narrator Leslie Carroll assumes the accent of the British gentry, drawing clear distinctions between characters who run the gamut from the friendly Darcys to the pretentious Elliots. Familiarity with Austen’s novels is not necessary to enjoy this series, although some listeners may be charmed enough to visit the original works. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2012]